Fruitless Smoothie

Ever have a smoothie and get hungry an hour later? Yeah, that's what fruit does to ya. Fructose (the primary sugar in fruit) doesn't stimulate leptin (aka, the hunger suppressing hormone) to send a signal to the brain that you're satiated. 

This isn't to scare anyone from ever eating fruit again. The optimal health key here is to eat it in moderation only when that specific fruit is in season. When you eat fruit in season, you're getting the most nutrients. Too much fructose in the diet can promote insulin resistance and glucose intolerance... precursors to hormonal imbalances, weight gain, and metabolic disorders like type II diabetes. 

When I battled with hypoglycemic episodes a few years ago, it was a product of consuming too many carbohydrates and poorly managed anxiety. I was on a roller coaster of getting low blood sugar and then spiking it to compensate. So, I became fat-adapted. Teaching my body to use fat for fuel and giving my insulin receptors time to sensitize themselves again has done wonders for my mood, hormones, and blood sugar control. 

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sweet potato, diced, steamed and frozen

• 1/2+ cup zucchini, diced, steamed and frozen

• 1/2 cup non-dairy milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• optional: 1-2 teaspoons raw local honey

Method 

Add milk, vanilla, and half of the diced sweet potato and zucchini to a high-speed blender. Blend until smooth, then add the remaining half. Blend until smooth again, adding more milk if necessary.

Optionally add in honey for a touch of sweetness. Topping suggestions include sweet + salt sprouted granola, nut butter, or toasted coconut.